Enchant the Night - Amanda Ashley Page 0,78

and we both know it,” Claret remarked, strolling around the cage. “Jasper, escort the woman into the other room. And don’t take any chances. I’m not sure how powerful she is.”

The warlock cocked his head to the side and the cage door swung open just far enough for him to reach inside, grab Callie’s arm and yank her out. The door immediately slammed shut behind her. Tightening his grasp, he dragged her out of the room.

Quill glared at Claret. “If you hurt her . . .”

“Yes, yes, I know. You’ll destroy me.”

His gaze bored into hers. “Count on it.”

She approached the cage, careful not to touch the bars. “Hold your arms out toward me.”

Jaw clenched, he carefully slid his bound hands through one of the narrow gaps in the cage.

Smiling with anticipation, she latched onto his arm and buried her fangs in the large vein in his left wrist.

It was all he could do not to grab a handful of her hair and yank her face against the bars. He considered it for a moment, relishing the thought of the silver burning into her flesh. It would leave a nasty scar. But he dared not do anything that might put Callie’s life in danger. He could hear the frightened beating of her heart, taste her fear like it was his own. And so he stood there, like a helpless beast of prey, while Claret fed on him.

* * *

Callie sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze carefully averted from the wizard’s eyes as he bound her hands and feet. She could feel him watching her like a cat at a mousehole. She had to get out of here, had to find a way to free Quill from that horrible creature. But how?

Her stomach churned with revulsion when she thought of Claret feeding on him. But what made her own blood run cold was the thought of the other vampires feeding on her, drinking from her until she grew weak, weaker, until they had taken it all.

Or, worse, turned her into one of them.

She tried to summon her magic, but anxiety for Quill’s life and her own kept it trapped deep inside. She took several deep breaths in an effort to calm her fears so she could concentrate, but she couldn’t think, couldn’t remember a single spell or incantation.

Discouraged and desperate to fight off the fear that threatened to paralyze her, she fell back on the mattress and closed her eyes.

* * *

Quill breathed a sigh of relief when, finally satisfied, Claret lifted her head. She licked his blood from her lips and smiled a decidedly feline smile. “Just think,” she murmured, “I can have as much as I want, any time I want.”

“What about us?” one of the other vampires asked. “We’d like a taste now and then.”

“He’s mine!” she snapped. “Touch him and you’re dead.”

“Then give us the woman.”

Claret frowned and then shrugged. “You can each have a drink once a day.”

Heedless of the silver that seared his skin, Quill made a grab for the vampire through the bars.

Laughing, she danced nimbly out of his way.

“Dammit, Claret!” he snarled. “Leave her alone!”

“I’m not going to touch her.” And so saying, she sashayed into the room where the warlock had taken Callie.

After a moment, the other vampires followed her. The last one closed the door, leaving Quill alone with his tumultuous thoughts and a raging thirst.

Chapter 33

The witch prowled the outskirts of the building. Five Transylvanian vampires inside—one female and four males.

One Hungarian vampire.

A young, fledgling witch.

And one warlock. He had cast a spell that had transformed the outside of the house so that it appeared to be a part of the surrounding forest, but she had been hiding inside the protective circle when he cast it, so it had not affected her. Not that she couldn’t have broken it if necessary, she mused with a touch of arrogance.

She blew out a sigh. She had never doubted her powers. Still, it had been a long time since she had practiced her craft. She tapped her finger against her lips. The prisoners didn’t seem to be in any imminent danger at the moment. Perhaps she would spend an hour or so brushing up on some of her more difficult spells before she took on a warlock and five vampires.

She smiled inwardly. With any luck, the fledgling witch might be of some help.

Chapter 34

Quill sat on the floor, legs stretched out in front of him, careful not to lean back